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The Amish Identity

The Amish are characterized by simplicity of life and clothing, reluctance to accept many modern technologies and amenities. The movement of the followers of Jacob Amman appeared in 1693 in Europe, but then most of the Amish were forced to immigrate to America escaping from persecution and the ones that stayed in Europe gradually reunited with Mennonites. Currently, most Amish live in the United States and Canada. The Amish managed to keep their identity despite all the changes throughout the history.

Amish beliefs are based on a literal and strict interpretation of the Bible. Like other Anabaptists, they allow baptism only in conscious age, not during infancy; they are in favor of non-violence and against any military service. Most Amish communities do not build places of worship and hold religious services at home. They are not engaged in missionary work and rarely accept newly converted.

For many generations, the Amish marry only fellow believers (sometimes with the Mennonites), because of this they form a genetically closed human population, atypical for the modern world. Due to the closely related marriages within a relatively small group of initial population, in many communities the Amish are increasingly manifest certain hereditary characteristics, and sometimes hereditary diseases. Amish families are mostly large and remain committed to the traditional rural way of life. High birth rates and thus low infant mortality make Amish population one of the fastest growing in the world.

Religious Amish groups tend to certain isolation from the rest of society. The Amish give great importance to inner-family relationships. The Amish usually create their own one-room schools and complete a formal education in the eighth grade. The Amish appreciate rural life, manual work, modesty, and simplicity. In difficult situations, they prefer to rely on the help of family and community, not the state or insurance companies.

Church rules must be adhered to by each of its members. These regulations affect most aspects of everyday life and include prohibitions or restrictions on the use of mains electricity, phones and cars, as well as regulations about clothing.

There is high incidence of certain genetic disorders among the Amish, including dwarfism, various metabolic diseases, and the spread of atypical blood groups.

The number of Amish is more than 200,000 people. By ethnic origin these are mainly Alsatians – descendants of approximately 200 founders, who have emigrated from Europe to North America in the 17th – beginning of the 18th century.

The Amish are characterized by simplicity of life and clothing, reluctance to accept many modern technologies and amenities. The movement of the followers of Jacob Amman appeared in 1693 in Europe, but then most of the Amish were forced to immigrate to America escaping from persecution and the ones that stayed in Europe gradually reunited with Mennonites.